Chrystal Nelson, a Mayville State University senior pursuing majors in English and history education was among the writers who read their stories submitted for the “Voices of the Valley” project during the University of North Dakota Writers Conference Thursday, March 26. Nelson’s creative nonfiction story features Ms. Nisa Rajput, a Zimbabwe native and recent Mayville State graduate.
“Voices of the Valley” aims to collect stories from various groups in the Red River Valley and put them together in a book, with each year having a different theme. This year’s book focuses on new Americans, refugees, and citizens originally from a different country. All proceeds from the book will be donated to the Global Friends Coalition, a nonprofit organization that fosters new American integration in the Grand Forks community.
Photo Caption: Mayville State students and staff who attended and participated in the UND Writers Conference Thursday, March 26 are pictured from left to right: Erin Kunz, Mayville State University assistant professor of English and Writing Program Administrator and co-director of the “Voices of the Valley” project; Brady Eichelberger; Nisa Rajput; Crystal Johnson; Ericka Mickus; Shelby Mullivan; and Pam Braaten, MSU Director of Academic Records. In the front row (l-r) are Chrystal Nelson and Jackie Geisinger.